Top 7 Alcoholic Drinks to Accompany Cigars

October 13, 2010

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It is important to choose the proper drink to accompany a fine cigar, especially the medium and full flavored cigars. A strong cigar will overpower a light drink, such as a margarita or a light beer. However, a beer may go just fine with a mild cigar. Our list of drinks was constructed to accompany any cigar. These drinks will enhance the flavor of mild sticks, and not be overpowered by full flavored stogies.

1. Coffee Drinks

There are many variations and types of coffee drinks, including those which are non-alcoholic (such as Cappuccino, Cafe Mocha, Cafe con Leche, and Cuban Coffee). However, we are lumping them all into this one category. To recommend only one, try coffee with Irish Cream. It tastes great, and will greatly enhance your cigar smoking experience. And when using Bailey’s, there’s really no need to add sugar or cream. Delicious!

2. Porto – Late Bottled Vintage

There are many different types and brands of port or “porto”. Regardless of the brand, the Late Bottled Vintage is great with cigars. Vintage porto is even better, but it is more expensive, will not last long after opened, and must be properly decanted before serving. Porto is considered to be a fortified red wine (contains brandy), and is made in Portugal. It has a somewhat sweet taste that makes for a great dessert drink and even a better companion to a fine cigar.

3. Kahlua Drinks

Kahlua drinks go great with cigars. As with coffee drinks, there are many variations, such as the Black Russian, Mud Slide and Nutty Irishman. To recommend just one, try smoking a cigar with a White Russian, which contains Kahlua, vodka, and cream.

4. Scotch

Many consider scotch to be the best drink to accompany a cigar, especially a single malt scotch. Scotch on the rocks, or just straight up, will not be overpowered by a strong cigar. However, like some full flavored cigars, scotch can be an acquired taste.

5. Stinger

A mixture of creme de menthe and brandy, this drink is considered by some to be a classic. A variation of the recipe uses vodka instead of brandy. This cocktail is severed with cigars at several hot spots in New York and elsewhere.

6. Martini

Martinis come in many different flavors these days, but they all have one thing in common, they all contain lots of alcohol, which holds up very well with full flavored cigars.

7. India Pale Ale

Beer drinkers should usually pair a mild cigar with their favorite draft, but an India Pale Ale can accompany almost any cigar, even the fuller flavored sticks. According to Bryce Eddings, About.com’s Guide to Beer, “Few beers have the stuff to stand up to a cigar and are not overwhelmed but the bitter hops in an IPA can shine brightly with a cigar”.

Clark Wine Center was built in 2003 by Hong Kong-based Yats International Leisure Philippines to become the largest wine shop in Philippines supplying Asia’s wine lovers with fine vintage wines at attractive prices.  Today, this wine shop in Clark Philippines offers over 2000 selections of fine wines from all major wine regions in the world.  As a leading wine supplier in Philippines, Pampanga’s Clark Wine Center offers an incomparable breadth of vintages, wines from back vintages spanning over 50 years.  Clark Wine Center is located in Pampanga Clark Freeport Zone adjacent to Angeles City, just 25 minutes from Subic and 45 minutes from Manila.

Wines from Burgundy, Bordeaux, Rhone, Loire, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Austria, Alsace, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, South Africa, Chile and Argentina etc. are well represented in this Clark Wine Shop.

Buy wine in Cebu, Philippines at good wine shops and boutique wine stores that offer good selection of good vintage wines at all price points. Good white wines that available at the wine shops in Manila and Pampanga include Puligny Montrachet, Chassagne Montrachet, Pouilly Fuisse, Corton Charlemagne, Montrachet, Batard Montrachet and Beaune. This makes it easy and convenient for wine lovers to buy wine in Manila. Manila wine and food lovers looking for things to do in Pampanga and Manila can consider attending one of these wine events. The best way to learn more about wine in the Philippines is to attend public wine tasting events that have no sponsors.

For more information, email Wine@Yats-International.com or visit http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com